Seniors and Volunteering: An Italian Study into Gender Differences

Lucia Boccacin; Linda Lombi

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ss.20180701.16

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Seniors and Volunteering: An Italian Study into Gender Differences

Lucia Boccacin, Linda Lombi

Published in Social Sciences (Volume 7, Issue 1)

Received: 16 November 2017 Accepted: 23 November 2017 Published: 23 December 2017

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Abstract

Various studies on active ageing have focused on social participation as an element in the promotion of related policies. Literature on the subject reveals that the participation in voluntary activities is a factor which contributes positively to the process of active ageing. This article explores gender disparities related to active volunteerism among Italian seniors. Of the 900 active subjects aged between 65 and 74 who participated, 146 were engaged in voluntary activities. Constrained cluster analysis techniques based on a series of variables including age, income type, relationship networks, value attributions, and sector of volunteering association were applied to identify the statistical differences between elderly male and female volunteers. The results show a difference in volunteer profile between the genders. Male volunteers are younger, often married and more active, while women are older, often widows and possessing a strong religious vocation. Furthermore, while men are more likely to be involved in activities related to sports, women tend to donate time to solidarity and educational initiatives aimed at individuals. The promotion of active ageing policies should consider as crucial not only the differences in national welfare regimes, but also how gender disparities determine different forms and opportunities for social participation.

Published in	Social Sciences (Volume 7, Issue 1)
DOI	10.11648/j.ss.20180701.16
Page(s)	36-42
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2017. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Active Ageing, Gender Differences, Gender Disparities, Volunteerism, Social Participation, Civic Engagement

References

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[2]	Walker A., Maltby T. (2012). “Active ageing: A strategic policy solution to demographic ageing in the European Union”. International Journal of Social Welfare, 21 (s1), S117-S130.
[3]	WHO (2002). Active Ageing: A Policy Framework, document available at: http://www.who.int/ageing/publications/active_ageing/en/ (Last access: 5 January 2017).
[4]	Foster L., Walker, A. (2014), Active and Successful Aging: a European Policy perspective. The Gerontologist, vol. 00, n. 00. 1-8.
[5]	Rossi G., Boccacin L., Bramanti D., Meda G. S. (2014). “Active Ageing: Intergenerational Relationship and Social Generativity”. In: Riva G., Ajmone Marsan P., Grassi P. (eds.), Active ageing and Health Living. A Human Centered Approach in Research and Innovations as Source of Quality of Life, Amsterdam: Ios Press. 57-68.
[6]	Foster L., Walker, A. (2013). "Gender and active ageing in Europe." European Journal of Ageing, 10 (1). 3-10.
[7]	Foster L. (2011), “Privatisation and pensions: what does this mean for women?”. J Poverty Soc Justice, 19 (2). 103–115.
[8]	Advisory Committee on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men (2011). Opinion on the gender dimension of active ageing and Solidarity between generations, document available at: http://ec.europa.eu/justice/gender-equality/files/opinion_active_ageing_en.pdf (Last access: 7 January 2017).
[9]	Boccacin L. (2005). Third sector and social partnership in Italy. A Sociological Perspective, Milan: Vita e Pensiero.
[10]	Boccacin L. (2016). “Essere volontari in età anziana: un esempio di active ageing”, Studi di sociologia, 2 (2016). 139-152.
[11]	Boccacin, L. (2016), “L’azione volontaria degli anziani attivi in Italia: l’emergere di nuovi ruoli sociali”. In: Scabini, E., Rossi, G. (eds.). L’allungamento della vita: una risorsa per la famiglia, un’opportunità per la società, Milano: Vita e Pensiero. 125- 154.
[12]	Boccacin L. (2016). “Volunteering and Active Aging in Italy”. The International Journal of Aging and Society, Volume 7, Issue 1, pp. 77-90.
[13]	Volonteurope (2012). Active ageing and solidarity between generations: the contribution of volunteering and civic engagement in Europe, report available at: https://www.volonteurope.eu/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Volonteurope-Active-Ageing-Full-Report.pdf (Last access: 5 January 2017).
[14]	Ehlers A., Naegele G., Reichert M. (2011). Volunteering by older people in the EU, European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions, document available at: http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/publications/report/2011/quality-of-life-social-policies/volunteering-by-older-people-in-the-eu (Last access: 5 January 2017).
[15]	Boccacin L., Rossi G., Bramanti D. (2011). "Partnership, Social Capital and Good Practices Among Public, Private and the Third Sector." Journal of US-China Public Administration 8.3 (2011): 241-260.
[16]	Boccacin L., Zimmer A., eds. (2016).”La morfogenesi del Terzo settore: approcci e prospettive internazionali”, Sociologia e Politiche sociali, 3, 18.
[17]	Boccacin L., Bramanti D. (2012). “Anziani attivi e associazionismo: una prospettiva intergenerazionale”. In: AA. VV., eds, Le generazioni che verranno sono già qui, Milano: Franco Angeli. 105-135.
[18]	Principi A., Chiatti C., Lamura G. (2014a). Older volunteers in Italy: an underestimated pheonomenon? In: Principi A., Jensen P. H., Lamura G. (eds.) (2014b). Active Ageing: Voluntary Work by Older People in Europe. Bristol, United Kingdom: Policy Press at the University of Bristol. 47-70.
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APA Style

Lucia Boccacin, Linda Lombi. (2017). Seniors and Volunteering: An Italian Study into Gender Differences. Social Sciences, 7(1), 36-42. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ss.20180701.16

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ACS Style

Lucia Boccacin; Linda Lombi. Seniors and Volunteering: An Italian Study into Gender Differences. Soc. Sci. 2017, 7(1), 36-42. doi: 10.11648/j.ss.20180701.16

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AMA Style

Lucia Boccacin, Linda Lombi. Seniors and Volunteering: An Italian Study into Gender Differences. Soc Sci. 2017;7(1):36-42. doi: 10.11648/j.ss.20180701.16

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@article{10.11648/j.ss.20180701.16,
  author = {Lucia Boccacin and Linda Lombi},
  title = {Seniors and Volunteering: An Italian Study into Gender Differences},
  journal = {Social Sciences},
  volume = {7},
  number = {1},
  pages = {36-42},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ss.20180701.16},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ss.20180701.16},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ss.20180701.16},
  abstract = {Various studies on active ageing have focused on social participation as an element in the promotion of related policies. Literature on the subject reveals that the participation in voluntary activities is a factor which contributes positively to the process of active ageing. This article explores gender disparities related to active volunteerism among Italian seniors. Of the 900 active subjects aged between 65 and 74 who participated, 146 were engaged in voluntary activities. Constrained cluster analysis techniques based on a series of variables including age, income type, relationship networks, value attributions, and sector of volunteering association were applied to identify the statistical differences between elderly male and female volunteers. The results show a difference in volunteer profile between the genders. Male volunteers are younger, often married and more active, while women are older, often widows and possessing a strong religious vocation. Furthermore, while men are more likely to be involved in activities related to sports, women tend to donate time to solidarity and educational initiatives aimed at individuals. The promotion of active ageing policies should consider as crucial not only the differences in national welfare regimes, but also how gender disparities determine different forms and opportunities for social participation.},
 year = {2017}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Seniors and Volunteering: An Italian Study into Gender Differences
AU  - Lucia Boccacin
AU  - Linda Lombi
Y1  - 2017/12/23
PY  - 2017
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ss.20180701.16
DO  - 10.11648/j.ss.20180701.16
T2  - Social Sciences
JF  - Social Sciences
JO  - Social Sciences
SP  - 36
EP  - 42
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2326-988X
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ss.20180701.16
AB  - Various studies on active ageing have focused on social participation as an element in the promotion of related policies. Literature on the subject reveals that the participation in voluntary activities is a factor which contributes positively to the process of active ageing. This article explores gender disparities related to active volunteerism among Italian seniors. Of the 900 active subjects aged between 65 and 74 who participated, 146 were engaged in voluntary activities. Constrained cluster analysis techniques based on a series of variables including age, income type, relationship networks, value attributions, and sector of volunteering association were applied to identify the statistical differences between elderly male and female volunteers. The results show a difference in volunteer profile between the genders. Male volunteers are younger, often married and more active, while women are older, often widows and possessing a strong religious vocation. Furthermore, while men are more likely to be involved in activities related to sports, women tend to donate time to solidarity and educational initiatives aimed at individuals. The promotion of active ageing policies should consider as crucial not only the differences in national welfare regimes, but also how gender disparities determine different forms and opportunities for social participation.
VL  - 7
IS  - 1
ER  -

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Author Information

Lucia Boccacin

Department of Sociology, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Milan, Italy
Linda Lombi

Department of Sociology, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Milan, Italy

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APA Style

Lucia Boccacin, Linda Lombi. (2017). Seniors and Volunteering: An Italian Study into Gender Differences. Social Sciences, 7(1), 36-42. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ss.20180701.16

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ACS Style

Lucia Boccacin; Linda Lombi. Seniors and Volunteering: An Italian Study into Gender Differences. Soc. Sci. 2017, 7(1), 36-42. doi: 10.11648/j.ss.20180701.16

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AMA Style

Lucia Boccacin, Linda Lombi. Seniors and Volunteering: An Italian Study into Gender Differences. Soc Sci. 2017;7(1):36-42. doi: 10.11648/j.ss.20180701.16

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.ss.20180701.16,
  author = {Lucia Boccacin and Linda Lombi},
  title = {Seniors and Volunteering: An Italian Study into Gender Differences},
  journal = {Social Sciences},
  volume = {7},
  number = {1},
  pages = {36-42},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ss.20180701.16},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ss.20180701.16},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ss.20180701.16},
  abstract = {Various studies on active ageing have focused on social participation as an element in the promotion of related policies. Literature on the subject reveals that the participation in voluntary activities is a factor which contributes positively to the process of active ageing. This article explores gender disparities related to active volunteerism among Italian seniors. Of the 900 active subjects aged between 65 and 74 who participated, 146 were engaged in voluntary activities. Constrained cluster analysis techniques based on a series of variables including age, income type, relationship networks, value attributions, and sector of volunteering association were applied to identify the statistical differences between elderly male and female volunteers. The results show a difference in volunteer profile between the genders. Male volunteers are younger, often married and more active, while women are older, often widows and possessing a strong religious vocation. Furthermore, while men are more likely to be involved in activities related to sports, women tend to donate time to solidarity and educational initiatives aimed at individuals. The promotion of active ageing policies should consider as crucial not only the differences in national welfare regimes, but also how gender disparities determine different forms and opportunities for social participation.},
 year = {2017}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Seniors and Volunteering: An Italian Study into Gender Differences
AU  - Lucia Boccacin
AU  - Linda Lombi
Y1  - 2017/12/23
PY  - 2017
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ss.20180701.16
DO  - 10.11648/j.ss.20180701.16
T2  - Social Sciences
JF  - Social Sciences
JO  - Social Sciences
SP  - 36
EP  - 42
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2326-988X
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ss.20180701.16
AB  - Various studies on active ageing have focused on social participation as an element in the promotion of related policies. Literature on the subject reveals that the participation in voluntary activities is a factor which contributes positively to the process of active ageing. This article explores gender disparities related to active volunteerism among Italian seniors. Of the 900 active subjects aged between 65 and 74 who participated, 146 were engaged in voluntary activities. Constrained cluster analysis techniques based on a series of variables including age, income type, relationship networks, value attributions, and sector of volunteering association were applied to identify the statistical differences between elderly male and female volunteers. The results show a difference in volunteer profile between the genders. Male volunteers are younger, often married and more active, while women are older, often widows and possessing a strong religious vocation. Furthermore, while men are more likely to be involved in activities related to sports, women tend to donate time to solidarity and educational initiatives aimed at individuals. The promotion of active ageing policies should consider as crucial not only the differences in national welfare regimes, but also how gender disparities determine different forms and opportunities for social participation.
VL  - 7
IS  - 1
ER  -

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